Champion filly Indian Blessing, whose flashy three-race winning streak was ended by Ventura in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita two months ago, returns to the track for the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 27.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Heavily favored Pioneerof the Nile, who took over the stall of Midshipman when the Breeder's Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner departed trainer Bob Baffert's barn for Dubai this fall, proved he earned it when he narrowly held off I Want Revenge in an exhilarating renewal of the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 20.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Trainer Bob Baffert gave the green light to Pioneerof the Nile and Ventana for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) after the pair worked Dec. 14 at Santa Anita.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Midshipman, unbeaten in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert after his gritty victory in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), heads a field of 10 in the $250,000 Norfolk Breeders Cup Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Sept. 28.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Indian Blessing, who romped to a 6 1/4-length win in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park, is scheduled to leave New York for Southern California Sept. 23 to prepare for her next assignment in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) winner Tough Tiz's Sis was scheduled to undergo surgery Sept. 21 after she suffered a career ending injury during a workout at Belmont Park a morning earlier.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
For the third consecutive time, heavy favorite Indian Blessing demolished sprint rivals when she coasted to victory by 6 1/4 lengths in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Sept. 20.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Indian Blessing, the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr.I) at Belmont Park Sept. 6, was scratched the morning of the race.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Robert and Janice McNair just might change their minds about getting out of racing now that their homebred Midshipman won the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) Sept. 3 closing day. The photo finish victory at seven furlongs over the synthetic surface came just several days after the McNairs announced they were selling their horses and Central Kentucky farm to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Canadian invader Southern Exchange might not be favored in the Sept. 3 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) closing day, but he's the only one of the 11 contestants with as many as three wins.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Sprint champion Midnight Lute appears to be ready for his next start after working faster than the track record for seven furlongs on Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 7.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Tough Tiz's Sis, who has given undefeated Zenyatta her two most difficult tests, is back to try once again for trainer Bob Baffert in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) over Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 2.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The strapping filly Zenyatta, unbeaten and barely challenged in five starts for trainer John Shirreffs, is the clear standout as the 124-pound topweight in the $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park July 5.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008Trainer Bob Baffert sends out Spaniard, a half-brother to 2007 2-year-old filly champion Indian Blessing, for his first start June 19 in the eighth race at Hollywood Park.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The loss of the 2004 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by Smarty Jones still plays in Stewart Elliott's mind, especially around this time of year. He thinks of the pressure going into that race, remembering the media frenzy and build-up of public recognition.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Pussycat Doll, a grade I winner three separate years, has been retired from racing because of a foot abscess. Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, she has been bred to Ghostzapper and pronounced in foal.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tough Tiz's Sis loves Hollywood Park, synthetic tracks and the 1 1/16-mile distance. So Bob Baffert's 4-year-old filly had much in her favor when she won the $108,500 Hawthorne Handicap (gr. III).
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Grade I winner Tough Tiz's Sis faces six older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Hawthorne Handicap (gr. III) on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track May 4.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Two weeks ago, Todd Pletcher was sitting on the outside of the Derby picture looking in. But when Padua Stables and partners' Behindatthebar followed the hard-knocking efforts of Monba and Cowboy Cal in the April 12 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) with an impressive performance of his own in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) April 19, the venerable trainer could count not one, but three potential contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Grade III winner Danthebluegrassman, a 9-year-old son of Pioneering who campaigned on the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trail for trainer Bob Baffert in 2002 before scratching from the race early Derby morning, has been retired and is headed to Old Friends equine retirement center near Georgetown, Ky. He will serve as the official mascot of the Festival of the Bluegrass at the Kentucky Horse Park June 12-15.
Thursday, March 20, 2008Worn down by chasing a fast pace, odds-on choice Tough Tiz's Sis was all out to hold off Nice Inheritance in winning the $112,950 Harry W. Henson Handicap for fillies and mares at New Mexico's Sunland Park March 16.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
After suffering her first defeat March 8 in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), Bob Baffert said 2007 2-year-old filly champion Indian Blessing would receive a break and possibly miss the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) on May 4.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Three days ago, trainer Larry Jones said he hoped Proud Spell would pressure Indian Blessing through the early lead in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II). Although Brereton Jones' homebred Proud Citizen filly didn't exactly do that, she did manage to wear down the Eclipse Award winner and get her own score in the March 8 event in New Orleans.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
In a recent Q&A with Blood-Horse staff writer Jason Shandler, trainer Bob Baffert said the Eclipse Award-winning Indian Blessing is "so talented, I think she can handle anything." The 3-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie will only have to handle three other runners in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 8.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Trainer Carl Nafzger and jockey Edgar Prado topped the list of 12 finalists for election to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 2008 when the museum announced nominees Feb. 22. Notably missing from the list was California conditioner Bob Baffert, who has been eligible for election for the past two years.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Experts from all avenues of the racing industry presented statistics and opinions on synthetic surfaces and Santa Anita track president Ron Charles said the track will replace its Cushion Track as a six-hour special meeting called by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) concluded Feb. 20.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Horses owned by Zayat Stables that were stabled in southern California have been relocated.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Trainers Bob Baffert and John Sadler have a fall back plan just in case racing doesn't resume as announced at Santa Anita Feb. 9. They also entered their fillies, Tough Tiz's Sis and Dawn After Dawn, respectively, in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II), which is set to run the following day.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tough Tiz's Sis, a grade I winner for trainer Bob Baffert on Santa Anita Park's Cushion Track during the Oak Tree meet last fall, takes on five rivals in the $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 9.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing will attempt to maintain a perfect record for Hal and Patti Earnhardt when she leads a field of seven in the $200,000 Silverbulletday Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Feb. 9.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Chances are Air Commander, who won the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) by a nose at odds of 52-1 three weeks ago, won't slip under the radar again in the $300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 2 on the Santa Anita Cushion Track.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Undefeated Indian Blessing cleared her first hurdle of 2008, but she unexpectedly had to outlast the strongest challenge of her brief career in the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Midnight Lute, expected to earn an Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding sprinter in 2007 after his stirring win in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is being targeted for the Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) to begin his 2008 campaign.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Comebacking Air Commander shocked his San Fernando (gr. II) rivals at odds of 52-1 when he nosed Johnny Eves in a terrific stretch duel at Santa Anita Jan. 12.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Undefeated Indian Blessing, dominant winner of the Grey Goose Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) in October, kicks off her 3-year-old campaign for trainer Bob Baffert in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Grade I winners Romance Is Diane and Tough Tiz's Sis, the respective first two finishers in last month's Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II), tangle once more in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Massive Drama, who ran third in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park last month, holds the edge in experience against six up-and-coming rivals entered in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III), which kicks off the 2008 3-year-old season at Santa Anita Jan. 12.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The top three finishers from the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III), led by the unbeaten Massive Drama, will meet again in the Dec. 22 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Zayat Stables' Maimonides will race for the first time since Sept. 3 when he competes in the Jan. 12 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park, trainer Bob Baffert said Dec. 19.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Trainer Bob Baffert appears to have another standout 2-year-old in his barn after Massive Drama drew away from co-favored Into Mischief mid-stretch for a 1 3/4-length win in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) over the Cushion Track on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 22.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
When you have a horse at the top of his game, seize the moment and have some fun, says trainer Bob Baffert. With an Eclipse Award as top sprinter all but a certainty, Midnight Lute looks to add to his laurels in the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr.I) at Aqueduct Nov. 24.
Thursday, November 22, 2007Meal Penalty, an unbeaten 2-year-old from the barn of the nation's leading trainer, will try to stretch his streak to three when he faces 12 rivals in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007Indian Blessing, winner of the Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), is thoroughly a product of the racing and breeding program of Hal and Patti Earnhardt III, who raced not only the filly's sire but also her stakes-winning dam.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Indian Blessing, the 8-5 favorite, led he 13-horse field on a merry chase in the $2-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Oct. 27, cruising to an easy 3 1/2-length gate-to-wire victory.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner Indian Blessing was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the $2-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tough Tiz's Sis never let the front-running Hystericalady out of her sight, running down the prohibitive favorite in the final couple of strides to win Oak Tree's $196,500 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup (gr. I) by a head at Santa Anita Park Oct. 7.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
After flashing brilliant speed in her debut, Indian Blessing showed she's got some stamina as well with a commanding 4 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies Oct. 6 at Belmont Park.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Favored Cry and Catch Me gave trainer Bob Baffert his seventh win in the $244,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) in the past 11 years with a game nose victory over Izarra at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet Sept. 29.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
With Belmont's fall meet set to open Sept. 7, a strong crop of top 2-year-olds will head into the East coast's final prep races for the Oct. 27-28 Breeders' Cup races at Monmouth Park.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Zayat Stables' 2-year-old Maimonides, a $4.6-million purchase at Keeneland's 2006 September Yearling Sale, will miss at least 30 days of training after coming out of the Sept. 3 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) with sore shins, trainer Bob Baffert said Sept. 5.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007